AustLit

'Set against the backdrop of the Australian Goldrush of 1857, Yong is a new Australian play by Jenevieve Chang. Mixing historical fact and narrative fiction, Yong takes us on a journey across land and sea, from China to the goldfields of Australia.

'Yong and his father leave their small village and travel across the seas hoping to strike gold and find their fortune in the goldfields of Ballarat. However, despite his family’s desperate need for money, Yong does not want to be on this journey. On the surface, he is an honourable son, but bubbling below is deepening resentment for his father and a longing for home. Faced with momentous change, Yong’s courage and inner strength are tested, and in overcoming difficult challenges, he discovers a resilience in himself that he never knew he had.'

Source: Monkey Baa.

'Grandma Poss loves making magic. She makes wombats blue and kookaburras pink. She makes dingoes smile and emus shrink. But one day, when danger arrives in the form of a snake, Grandma uses her most magical spell to make Hush invisible. Hush has many wonderful adventures. But being invisible isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…'

Source: Merrigong Theatre Company.

An adaptation of Elizabeth Fensham's novel about an adolescent girl struggling with schizophrenia and an unhealthy relationship with her brother.

'Thursday's Child is Tin, born on a Thursday and like the old nursery rhyme, has far to go. A strange and lonely child who digs, his wanderings take him underneath the earth into the subterranean tunnels that he's pre-destined to roam. Told by his sister Harper Flute, it is a story of an Australian farming family's strength as they battle their way through the great depression of the 1930's. A surreal and epic piece of theatre that explores the themes of memory, fate, family camaraderie and the spirit of determination in a time of great change.'

Source: Monkey Baa.

'"I Am Jack" explores the journey of Jack, a smart, funny 11-year-old boy being badly bullied at school. This true story takes us on a touching and sometimes comical journey as Jack moves from victim to victor...

'Using the metaphor of an island in the central design concept, Jack tells his story from what at first appears to be the confines of his bedroom. As he tells his tale, lighting and sound emphasise Jack's emotional turmoil and create the shape and persona of the bully in his life.'

Source: Monkey Baa's website, http://monkeybaa.com.au/
Sighted: 28/05/2009

'Did Hitler's daughter, Heidi, really exist? Four country children waiting in the rain for the school bus take turns telling stories. In an unusual twist, Anna's story takes the children to Nazi Germany. An intriguing tale about Heidi, a young girl caught in the turmoil of World War II, whose father was one of the most dreaded men in history.

'One of the children, Mark, becomes engrossed in Heidi's story. In his conversations with his friends, his teacher and with his parents, he explores the moral and ethical issues it raises.

'This intriguing play poses powerful questions about a frightening period in history and forces us to examine moral issues in relation to society's fears and prejudices in a fresh, compelling light.'

Source: Monkey Baa Theatre for Children website, http://www.monkeybaa.com.au/
Sighted: 07/08/2007

'Worry Warts tells the story of 11 year old Keith Shipley and his attempts to cheer up his "misery guts" parents.

'Keith paints his parents' car "hot sunflower and tropical parrot" to cheer them up. Then he discovers what's really making his parents miserable - their lack of money. So Keith decides to take matters into his own hands.

'With the help of his best friend Tracy, Keith learns that there's money to be made out in the opal fields in central Australia. Keith runs away to make a fortune for his parents. Along the way he meets a colourful cast of characters. One of them, Curly, from the General Store, strikes a deal with Keith; Curly will give him use of his opal mine for 24 hours if Keith paints Curly's store. Keith is desperate to find opals, so with Tracy following him, together they go down Curly's mine.

'In the darkened gloom of the dangerous opal mine Keith finally understands that there is only so much he can do about his parents' happiness and that sometimes change is inevitable.'

Source: Monkey Baa's website, http://monkeybaa.com.au/worry-warts.html
Sighted: 28/05/2009